6 July 2017 - Opportunity International Australia said the reunion of the original Iron Chefs at Sydney Opera House on 2 August, is expected to help empower hundreds of families living in poverty in developing countries. The funds raised through the epic Iron Chefs All Stars Charity Dinner will provide small loans to families in countries such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines, so they can build businesses, earn regular incomes and break the cycle of poverty themselves.

Opportunity Chief

Executive Officer, Robert Dunn, says: “We are tremendously excited about the Iron Chefs All Stars dinner. It’s extraordinary to see so many world-renowned chefs coming together to help families free themselves from poverty. I’d like to thank everyone involved in this historic event.

“The Iron Chefs All Stars dinner comes on the eve of the launch of our food-themed fundraising campaign, the Great Australian Curry, which celebrates the vibrant foods characteristic of the Asian countries in which Opportunity serves. We are inviting Aussies to cook up a curry, invite family and friends and encourage them to make a donation to Opportunity.”

At the Iron Chefs All Stars dinner, four original Iron Chefs – Rokusaburo Michiba (Japanese), Hiroyuki Sakai (French), Kenichi Chen (Chinese) and Masahiko Kobe (Italian) – will reunite on stage for the first time since the FujiTV program ended in 1997. They will be joined by 2 Michelin Star Kentaro Chen and Asia’s Top Pastry Chef Janice Wong, to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime feast.

Iron Chef Ikuei Arakane, who spearheaded all the Iron Chef events in Australia, explained: “This will be the first and last time the oldest Iron Chef, Rokusaburo Michiba, cooks outside of Japan. He is 86 years old and has long retired, but his passion to represent Japan for such a historical culinary event got him excited to create a dish that will be the first in the world!”

Executive Chef Mark Normoyle, who was given the title of an Iron Chef when he was challenged in Melbourne in 2010, exclaimed: “It’s an honour to be cooking with these legends once again. Their creativity, precision skills, diligence and unrelenting passion to cook at this age is something all chefs must learn and be inspired by.”

Opportunity Ambassador and event director, Miss Roslyn Foo from Glamorazzi, says: “We are blessed to be trusted by world-renowned chefs and to receive generous support from many sponsors, partners, voluntary event crew and chefs. I am excited to work with Adam Liaw from Masterchef as this event’s MC, who will guide diners through the magnificent Iron Chef degustation, as well as Andrew Morello, winner of the first season of The Apprentice Australia as our charity auctioneer.”

To learn more about The Iron Chefs All Stars Charity Dinner or purchase tickets please click here.

About Opportunity International Australia

Opportunity International Australia enables you to invest in a mother living in poverty so that she can use a small loan to buy an item like a sewing machine and start a small business. For a family in a developing country who can’t afford the basics, a gift as small as $70 can be life changing. With this hand up, a mother can put food on the table, send her children to school and transform her family’s future for generations. Mothers want what is best for their children, and as businesses become successful (98% of Opportunity’s loans are repaid), your help means they can make their dreams for their children come true. For more information, visit www.opportunity.org.au

MEDIA CONTACT

Marie Kelly-Davies
Media and Communications Manager
Opportunity International Australia
0408 256 381
mkelly-davies@opportunity.org